The IABC Leadership Institute returns on 24 April in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bringing together leaders from around the world for a day of renewed connection, purpose, and growth. This reimagined experience builds on IABC’s rich tradition while offering fresh opportunities to strengthen your leadership skills and expand your network. Designed for chapter and regional leaders, the event provides a space to share ideas, gain confidence, and reignite the inspiration that drives our community. Join us for a meaningful, energizing gathering that will equip you to lead with clarity and connection.
Price: $199
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*Use code 303879 when booking.
Why You Should Attend
This year's Leadership Institute offers a reimaged format while following the traditional mission of empowering IABC Leaders in a space that promotes growth, connections, and inspires you to lead with confidence. With a schedule built around engaging interactions, reflections, and real-world leadership insights, it's the ideal space to strengthen your impact. Here's what you can expect from this year's experience:
- Reconnect With Purpose: From opening remarks to closing takeaways, the day creates space for meaningful conversations and shared moments that renew your sense of purpose as an IABC leader.
- Grow as a Leader: Keynotes, learning sessions, and development panels provide practical tools and fresh ideas to help you lead your chapter or region with confidence.
- Celebrate Your Impact: Through peer discussions and collaborative sessions, you’ll honor achievements, learn from one another, and recognize the collective strength of our leadership community.
- Build Community and Connection: Networking breaks, lunch conversations, and roundtable discussions give you multiple opportunities to deepen relationships and collaborate with leaders from across the association.
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8:15-9 a.m.
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Registration and Breakfast |
| 9-9:15 a.m. |
Welcome and Opening Remarks by IABC Chair, Anuja Kale Argarwal |
| 9:15-10 a.m. |
Lead the Room: Communicate a Message That Counts in Moments That Matter Most
Communication isn’t just a helpful skill; it’s a leadership imperative and a hallmark of the most effective leaders. It remains one of the most critical capabilities for 21st-century leadership. As American presidential speechwriter James C. Humes once said, “Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership.” Our world is more globally connected than ever before, with easier access to information than at any point in history. Yet in the moments that matter most, people aren’t just looking for information, they’re looking for leadership.
This program is about making those moments count. It focuses on communicating messages that not only engage and inspire, but also mobilize people to take meaningful action. In this session, you’ll be challenged to think beyond traditional presentation skills or public speaking. Instead, you’ll explore how to become a leadership voice that inspires confidence, drives alignment, and creates impact.
This program is designed for leaders and teams who want to:
- Become a trusted and credible leadership voice
- Accelerate change and build buy-in
- Capture and communicate ideas with greater confidence and clarity
- Extend their reach and influence within their sector or organization
- Mobilize people toward action, both internally and externally
- Build and leverage a leadership platform to lead with greater impact at scale
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| 10-10:30 a.m. |
Networking Break |
| 10:30-11:15 a.m. |
Membership Rapido |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
Personal and Professional Development
Personal and professional development can go hand-in-hand. This session will explore how being an IABC Leader can enhance your own personal development. Hear from a panel of industry professionals as they share their IABC leadership experience and help you identify new ways to upscale your presence on LinkedIn and become a professional networker!
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| 12-1:15 p.m. |
Networking Lunch |
| 1:15-3:15 p.m. |
World Café: Roundtable Connections
Join us for our World Cafe: Roundtable Connections, an open forum for networking and discussion on key volunteer roles and positions within IABC. Choose from what interests you at designated tables, each led by a facilitator to guide conversations and spark insights. This is your chance to delve into expectations as a leader, understand the role and responsibilities, ask questions, and learn from others.
Topics will include:
- Professional development
- Marketing
- Membership
- Leadership
- Events
- Regional support
- Certification
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| 3:15-3:45 p.m. |
Networking Break |
| 3:45-4:15 p.m. |
Closing Takeaways
Let’s hear from you! As we wrap up the event, we’ll invite participants to share what stood out most from the day. What was the most valuable insight you gained? What inspired you? How will you carry this momentum forward?
This is your opportunity to take the mic, reflect on your experience, and share your key takeaways with the room.
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Can't Make It In Person? Explore Virtual Opportunities!
Join us for the Leadership Institute in a way that works best for you:
- Attend from a satellite office in Berlin, Calgary, or Toronto
- Virtual participation from your own home or office
- Access the full event recording after the Leadership Institute concludes
- Interested in a satellite site? Complete the Satellite Interest Form
Bundle and Save!
Make the most of your trip to Minneapolis by attending both the 2026 Convergence Summit and the Leadership Institute. Unlock the full learning experience while saving on registration. By pairing these two impactful events, you’ll maximize your professional growth, deepen connections with fellow leaders, and elevate your impact within the IABC community.